Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-24
THE SULTAN'S DECREE.
A MOHAMMEDAN FRINGE FORBiDS
THE USE OF TOBACCO.

A MoHAMMEDAN FRINGE FORBIDS
THE USE OF TOBACCO.
The Latest News from Morocco The
Sultan Undertakes to Reform His Peo-
pie by Compulsory Legislation - The
Rulers Zeal Object.
The sultan of Morocco is the latest convert
to the doctrine of making people moral and
temperate by compulsory legislation, and he
adopts short and simple way in the matter.
No long speeches are made; no public agita-
ton is set on foot; no divisions are taken; as
soon as the mind Of his hignness is settled, the
question is settled for everybody. A few Sun
days ago the town of Tangier was startled at
an early hour by an artillery salute, an
nouncing that decree of the sultan would be
read in all the mosques after morning prayer.
The faithful duly repaired to the holy edi-
fees, and heard-not without surprise and
considerable discontent-that their ruler had
determined to forbid the sale or purchase Of
intoxicants, and especially Of tobacco, snuff
and the commodity styled "kief.n The state
tobacco monopoly was to be magnanimously
abandoned, and everybody found buying,
selling or using the denounced articles was to
be condignly punished.
It was quickly discovered, too, that his
highness was in grim earnest. A few hours
after the PRONUNCIATION Of his DEGREES two
soldiers found smoking "kief" were put in
irons ana cast into prison. Many Of the
townsfolks who had not heard of the edict,
or could not believe it possible that such
"bonterbast" had been issued, were seized by
the police and savagely bastinadoed. All the
shops where the condemned articles are wont
to be sold were incontinently closed, and large
quantities of "kief" were solemnly burned in
the center Of the market place. Professions
OF Moorish ragamuff1ns were organized, who
paraded the streets and bazars of the town
carrying on long poles handkerchiefs stained
with snuff, which they hooted and abused,
exalting the wisdom and justice Of the sultans
proclamation. Certain old smokers, who
could not break themselves of the "consoling
bowl" upon such short notice. even after these
significant consequences Of the royal decree,
were clapped into Jail, with the pleasing pro-
spect OF being stripped, fastened upon
donkeys, face to the tail, and logged through
the chief roadways Of the city.
NICOTINE NOT LAWFUL
Nevertheless, there is something to be said
in defense, or, at any rate, in reasonable e1-
PLANTATION Of what appears to be SO arbitrary
measure. In the first place, tobacco in itself
and by consequence snuff, and all nicotian
compounds-was never really lawful under
the regime Of the Koran. 1t was not known
to the prophet when he was writing the Suras
OF the "Perspicuous Book" upon the shoulder
blades of the sheep and goats; but it is con-
sidered to fall within the category Of those
intoxicants which Mohammed forbade by
his sternest verses, and all strict puritans of
the faith never touch pipe or roll cigarette
Snuff is very rarely taken by Moslems, except
in Africa and India, but, in truth, the sultans
decree cannot be primarily leveled against
either Of these. The real object Of the new
3counterblast" must be "kjef, as the telegram
calls it; which article deserves all the evil
that can be said of it, and any condemnation,
however despotic. It Is preparation Of
opium-in fact, there Is a score Of prepare
tons with which the devotee Of this fatal
commodity Is enabled to make "kief.n The
hemp plant as well as the poppy contributes
to this besetting oriental vice, some employ
ing "bhang" or "hasheesh," and some pills Of
opium mixed with tobacco, to obtain the
drowsy paradise which is thus to be entered.
In all parts of the east these drugs are
either openly or occultly sold, and do an i'm
mense deal Of moral and social mischief, At
Constantinople there used to exist theriaki
teharehi-opium shops-wherein hundreds Of
votaries might be seen Tapped in the costly
swoon OF the narcotic; but, though swept
away from general gaze, the custom con-
tinues, even while public opinion despises and
condemns the opium smoker. At Cairo there
Is a v. clandestine sale Of hemp prepare
tions; every donkey boy knows where to go
to break the law and smoke or chew himself
into the elysum Of the initiated. Very real,
moreover, to the poor Arab, Moor or Turk is
the temporary bliss of charas or afiun. When
the stomach-at first nauseated-has grown
accustomed to the dose, tie fumes of these
drugs spread over the frame sense Of felicity
impossible to describe Local pains or constf-
tutioral troubles glide out of consciousness: a
soft veil sinks between the mind and the body;
the imagination, gently stimulated, sends
agreeable ideas dancing through the brain,
too rapidly at first for Sleep which comes
afterward, however, suddenly and profound
", and is generally dreamless. The different
forms OF the narcotic employed produce vari-
Gus results-but almost always among them
this magic disqualification of the weary mind
or aching body, this soft respite from self.
a FATALLY HIGH PRICE.
Yet tho price exacted is fatally high; the
abandoned devotee Of "kief' becomes too sure
ly lost man. His digestion grows seriously
impaired; his drugged nerves clamor for their |
daily supply; his eyesight, muscular strength |
and manly sources fail the more he yields to |
this demand, which Is from time to time in |
creased as the body becomes insensible to the !
deadly stuff. In moderation tie use Of opium |
is probably beneficial to hard working people |
like the Chinese coolies. 1t is an exceller. I
and anti spasmodic But tie Spec
tacle of Turk, or Arab, or Moor making |
kief" with haggard face and blinking eyes |
useless to himself and to his fellows as log !
Of palm wood-would seem quite enough in |
the opinion of most Europeans to justify the
recent action of his highness the sultan Of |
Morocco.
Yet we can never believe that any Mussul-
man ruler could put down the use of tobacco
IN bis dominions, and hardly that he would
prove so iasensate as to try it Illicit the
fragrant weed may be according to the strict
etter Of the Koran; but Islam, from east to
vest, has taken it up as one Of the choicest
lifts of Allah. All round the earth, wherever
followers Of the prophet are to be found, they
will be soon enjoying the calm pleasure Of the
,offee and the pipe. 1t may be the long
temmed @chibouk," with gilded bowl of red